LIVEin Property Management
advertising feature
Tamara, the landlord’s new best friend TROUBLE between landlords and tenants might make good TV, but it’s anything but good business. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way, says Tamara Baxter, owner and director of LIVEin Property Management, based in Dickson. Tamara, who has just been nominated for REI ACT Property Manager of the Year, says there’s far more to property management than collecting rent – and that to get the most out of an investment property, managers need experience and professionalism. “We’re very different to other property managers,” she says of the company she owns. “We offer a lower fee, but higher quality in terms of marketing, advertising and then managing a property.” LIVEin’s property management fee is seven per cent – but this isn’t the only reason the company boasts a 99.3 per cent client retention rate, says Tamara. “First, we offer professional photography and high-definition video tours of rental properties, which we don’t see other agencies doing.” Poor – or worse, no – photography on an online listing can turn
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away potential tenants, Tamara says. “Marketing has to be of an exceptional standard to attract the best tenants and get the best returns. Then, hopefully, the relationship is easier to maintain because they’re a better quality tenant.” Many landlords have been conditioned not to expect high quality service from property managers, Tamara says. “But the service shouldn’t be of a poor standard simply because it’s a rental property. “Property management as an industry often attracts staff who are inexperienced in negotiating, dealing with tradespeople and resolving disputes, which leads to poor service for landlords. “Property managers need to put themselves in the shoes of the landlords when organising maintenance for properties and understand the costs and values of tradies – to keep expenses to a minimum for their clients. “So many people are unhappy with their property managers, who don’t address problems and don’t return calls. “However in my case, I own the business, I own investment properties and so I know what’s important to a landlord, and I have
a real desire to do things properly. “With us, you know you’re not going to be dealing with a different property manager every few months.” Tamara founded LIVEin in 2007, after coming to Australia from the UK. Tamara learned her trade at Foxtons, a leading real estate agency in the UK, where she was the top managing agent for southwest England. She says that as well as providing high-quality service to landlords, the company strives to maintain good relationships with tenants. “It’s just as important. This way, the property is looked after, the tenants know it will be maintained and they feel somebody actually cares about them – so they stay longer, which keeps costs down for the landlord.” Tamara says LIVEin offers landlords Canberra’s best-value management fee and for new clients the first month is free. The company will also refund all management fees to any dissatisfied landlord within the first three months. For more information visit www. livein.net.au or call 6262 5232.
Tamara Baxter… “Service shouldn’t be of a poor standard simply because it’s a rental property.”